Can mothers identify malnutrition in their children?

To assess mothers' perceptions about malnutrition and theirability to identify malnutrition in their own children, 339children aged 3–35 months and their mothers were studiedin two urban hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and in a communityclinic. The weight, height, and mid-upper arm circumferenceof the children were measured, and their mothers were interviewed.Child nutritional status according to their mother's statementand anthropometrically assessed nutritional status were compared.Sixty per cent of the mothers correctly identified better nutritionalstatus (weight/age >75% of NCHS median) and 67% mothers correctlyidentified malnutrition (weight/age < 75% of NCHS median)in their children. Sixty-one per cent of mothers with less than5 years of formal education correctly identified better nutrition(weight/age >75%) whereas 38% mothers with more than 5 yearsof education correctly identified better nutrition. Correctidentification of malnutrition was made by 70% of mothers withless than 5 years of formal education, and 74% of educated mothersdid the same. As regards causes of malnutrition, 33% of mothers stated thatlack of food at home resulted in undernutri-tion in their children(mean weight-for-age of these children was 65% of the NCHS median).Mothers' suggestions for improving child health were: betterfood in 31% cases; treatment of illnesses in 22% cases; andboth in 42% cases. The results suggest that most of the mothersare able to identify malnutrition in their children, and 95%of them are aware of ways to improve it, and that the provisionof adequate food and health care may improve child nutritionalstatus.